Socket cleaner



Nov. 3, 1959 J. w. ROW 2,910,713

SOCKET CLEANER Filed March 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I /6. Z0 3 Z4 INVENTOR.

JOHN h/ 20% 54 M 4. Wa

J. W. ROW

SOCKET CLEANER Nov. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1958 INVENTOR. JOHN W. Fol/v.

United States Pateng SOCKET CLEANER John W. Row, Berrien Springs, Mich. Application March 13, 1958, Serial No. 721,304

9 Claims. (Cl. 15--210) This invention relates to improvements in socket cleaners, and more particularly to a tool usable by machinists for the purpose of cleaning a bore or a socket which has been drilled or otherwise formed in a work piece.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tool of this character which is simple in construction, in-

expensive to manufacture, easy to use, and which avoids the danger of damage or injury to the walls of the socket being cleaned.

Afurther object is to provide a device of this character having a carrier detachably mounting a plurality of strips of non-metallic material to project from the carrier and form flutes for engagement with the walls of a socket, and wherein novel anchoring means are provided for anchoring said strips to said carrier in a position to protect the work piece against contact thereof with metallic parts of the carrier and in a manner to accommodate ready replacement of the strips when necessary.

A further objectis to provide a device of this character having a longitudinally grooved carrier and an end socket so'arranged as to provide for hooked engagement of a wiper strip at one end thereof to project beyond the endof the carrier and beyond'the outline of the ca1rier when seated in the grooves thereof, together with novel meansfor retaining and anchoring the other end of each of said strips in fixed relation to the carrier and to a handle.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having novel means for storing replacement wiper strips in the handle thereof in conveniently accessible position for withdrawal and introduction into the carrier of the device when required.

Further objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

I I 'Fig. l is a side view of the device with parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of thedevice as viewed from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the carrier portion of the device, as taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line d d of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a' wiper strip forming a part of the device;

'Fig. 6 is a fragmentarylongitudinal assembled sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a modified embodiinentof the invention; 7

Fig. 8 is an end view as seen from the right inFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of a part of the device taken on'line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line iii-10 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a view of a wiper strip bentfto circular form for storage in the construction of the device shown in Figs. 7 to 10.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs.

clearance the carrier 32.

ice

1 to 6, inclusive, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates a handle having a hollow bore or cavity 22 concentric thereof and open at one end. A cap 24 is detachably mounted upon the handle at its open end to close the chamber 22 so as to constitute the same a storage compartment. The length of this storage compartment is such as to extend substantially full length of the handle. The inner end wall 26 of the handle has an aperture 28 extending axially thereof and communicating with a tapered socket 39.

A carrier 32, which preferably is of a length less than the combined length of the handle 2% and the cap 24 and Whose cross-sectional dimension is less thanthe crosssectional dimension of the handle, is provided with a central axial screw-threaded bore 34 formed in one end thereof and communicating with an enlarged socket portion 36 defining a circumferential end rib 3d at one end of the carrier. The carrier is preferably of longitudinally tapered or frusto conical overall outline, and at the end thereof opposite that in whicl'i the socket 36 is formed is provided a concentric end socket 4i? which preferably terminates in an inner conical portion 42. The carrier is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 44 which extend full length thereof and are of a depth at least equal to the thickness of the circumferential rib 38 at one end of the carrier and to the thickness of the circumferential rib 46 at the opposite end of the carrier.

A plurality of wiper strips 5t formed of shape-retaining non-metallic material, such as soft or yielding thermoplastic material, such as nylon, polyethylene, vinyl chloride, or rubber or synthetic rubber, are provided in the device. Each of the strips 56) is ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughouhand is of a length greater than the carrier. The central or intermediate portion of each strip is of uniform width. At one end each strip hasan angularly or laterally projecting portion :52 of a width substantially equal to the depth of the socket 336. At the opposite end thereof each strip St has a lateral projection 54 of tapered outline characterized by an outer end edge 56 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of said strip and an inner end edge extending at an acute angle to the inner edge of the strip 543, said angle preferably being approximately equal to the angle of taper of the conical socket or under cut portion 42. The length of the longitudinal edge of the intermediate portion of the strip 59, plus the length of the tab 52 thereof, is substantially equal to the spacing from the free edge of the rib 33 to the point 60 at the junction of the tapered socket 42 and the longitudinal grooves 24. The length of the tab 54 is preferably greater than the spacing between the point 6% and the free edge of the rib 46.

A cup-shaped member having a disk or base s2 and a tubular skirt portion 64 is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 6 with the base e2 thereof abutting the end Wall 26 of the handle 20 and the skirt as thereof encircling with Thebase 62 has a central aperture to receive the shank as of a securing screw having a conical head 68 seating in the conical socket 36.

In the assembly of the parts the strips 56 are seated in the grooves 44 of the carrier 32 with their ends 54 hooked in the tapered or conical socket 42 at the edges 53 thereof and with the lateral projections 52 extending into socket 36 at the opposite end of the carrier. The cup-shaped part 62, 64- is then applied around the strips to overlie and hold the same in the grooves 44 with their end projections 52 seating in the socket 36. Thereupon the handle 26 is applied against the base 62 of the cupshaped member and a screw 66 is threaded through the aperture 28 in the handle, through the central aperture ,strip from confinement within the handle.

in the cup-shaped member 62, 64, and into the bore 34 of the carrier.

Where three or more strips are provided in equiangularly displaced position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, and are of a width greater than the depth of the receiving grooves 44 so as to project laterally from the carrier, the strips 50 provide substantially the only engagement which the tool may have with the hole, recess or socket in a work piece to be cleaned thereby. Thus the strips project full length of the grooves to protect the side walls of the bore or socket, and they project beyond the end of the carrier so as to prevent contact of the metallic body of the carrier with the bottom of the socket. Rotation of the cleaner within the bore, socket or recess will permit quick and complete wiping of the walls of the recess for the removal of chips, dirt and other foreign material from such socket or hole.

The chamber 22 will preferably be of a length substantially equal to or slightly greater than the length of the strips 50 so as to provide a storage container for such strips as are not required for use.

Another feature which may be incorporated in the device is to provide the longitudinal surface of the carrier 32 with shallow serrations or striations or circumferential ribs to facilitate withdrawal of chips and grit or other particles bearing against the carrier surface as the tool is withdrawn after manipulation thereof within the bore or socket of the work piece.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive. In this construction a carrier 32 is provided similar to the carrier described above, with the exception that the same mounts the shank 8% of an axially extending and projecting screw 82 at the end thereof at which the circumferential end rib 38 is formed. The carrier 32' is provided with grooves 44 to receive a plurality of wiper strips 50 of the character described above.

The handle of the construction is different from the Fig. 1 construction, however, and is of generally cupshape, being characterized by a tubular wall portion 84, an end Wall 86, and a tubular skirt 88 projecting from the wall 86 and adapted to receive therein one end of the carrier 32 and to confine the strips 56 in the same fashion that the skirt 64 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 6 confines the strips 50 in the construction previously described. The end wall 86 has a thickened central portion 90 and has a screw-threaded axial bore 92 for detachable screw-threaded receipt of the threaded stub 82 projecting from carrier 32. At the open end of the cupshaped handle is provided an inwardly projecting circumferential flange 94 which is interrupted at one or more points by cut-outs 96. The socket bore chamber 9% within the handle is of a circumferential dimension at .least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the length of the wiper strips 50, so that the wiper strips may be curled in C-shape, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and confined within the handle in this curled form, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The strips 50 are retained against release from chamber 98 by the end flange 94. The cutaway 96 in the end flange 94 exposes the strips to the finger of a user who may manipulate the same by pulling thereon in a manner to curl the strip to a tighter coil than is shown in Figs. and 11, as a means for releasing the The handle may be of any length desired and preferably will be of a length sufiicient to provide a convenient hand grip and also to provide for the receipt of a plurality of strips therein.

This device has substantially the same advantages as the form first above described, and has the additional advantage of reduction of the number of parts by elimination of the cap 24 of the Fig. 1 device and the formation of the wiper strip-retaining skirt 88 as an integral part of the handle rather than as a separate element. This emobdiment has the additional advantage that the securing screw for connecting the parts is mounted as a fixed part of the carrier rather than being a separate element as in the Fig. 1 construction.

While the carriers shown and described herein are provided with straight longitudinal grooves, the grooves may take other shapes, such as longitudinal spiral or helical grooves or grooves of other shapes, each extending full length of the carrier. The flexibility of the wiper strips 50 permits them to assume shapes to correspond with the grooves. The strips are anchored to the carrier in the same manner explained above regardless of the shape of the grooves.

It will also be understood that the device may be used for other purposes than cleaning in the event that strips 50 are provided which are formed of materials capable of other services. Thus if plastic strips have abrasive particles imbedded therein, they may serve to grind, hone, polish or otherwise finish the bore of a work piece.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, an elongated wiper strip seating in said slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip having spaced lateral projections seating in said recesses, one of said lateral projections constituting a hook, one of said recesses being undercut to receive said hook, and a retainer detachably connected to said carrier and overlying the end portion of said strip remote from said hook.

2. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, an elongated wiper strip seating in said slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip having spaced lateral projections seating in said recesses, one of said lateral projections constituting a hook, one of said recesses being undercut to receive said hook, and a retainer detachably connected to said carrier and overlying the end portion of said strip remote from said hook, said hook-receiving end recess tapering inwardly at one end of said carrier and said hook having an edge tapered similarly to said recess.

3. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and end recesses communicating with said slot and elongated wiper strip seating in said slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip having lateral projections at its ends seating in said recesses, one of said lateral projections constituting a hook, one of said recesses being undercut to receive said hook, and a retainer having a skirt portion detachably secured to said carrier and fitting around one end portion of said carrier and overlying the end said strip opposite said hook.

4. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, one of said recesses being undercut, an elongated Wiper strip seating in said slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip hav ing longitudinally spaced lateral projections seating in said recesses, one of said lateral projections constituting a hook seating in said undercut recess, and a retainer detachably connected to said carrier and overlyingthe end portion of said strip remote from said hook, said strip being of substantially uniform .width intermediate said projections and having a continuous linear outer edge.

5. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, a wiper strip seated in said slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip having lateral projections seating in said recesses, one

of said lateral projections constituting a book, one of said recesses being undercut to receive said hook, and a retainer detachably connected to said carrier and overlying the end portion of said strip remote from said hook,

said strip being of a length greater than said carrier and 5 extending beyond the end of said carrier remote from said retainer.

6. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, a Wiper strip seated in said 1 dle detachably connected to one end of said carrier, and 15 a skirt projecting from said handle and fitting around the adjacent end of said carrier and of said strip.

7. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, a wiper strip seated in said 20 slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip having lateral projections seating in said recesses, one of said lateral projections constituting a hook, one of said recesses being undercut to receive said hook, a handle detachably connected to said carrier, and a skirt pro- 25 jecting from said handle and overlying said strip remote from said hook, said handle having a chamber therein adapted to receive one of said strips.

8. A tool comprising an elongated carrier having a longitudinal slot and longitudinally spaced recesses communicating with said slot, a wiper strip seated in said slot and projecting laterally from said carrier, said strip having lateral projections seating in said recesses, one of said lateral projections constituting a hook, one of said recesses being undercut to receive said hook, a handle detachably connected to one end of said carrier, and a skirt projecting from said handle and fitting around the adjacent end of said carrier and overlying said strip, said handle having a chamber therein open at its outer end and a peripheral inturned flange for confining a strip bent to circular shape, said strip being flexible.

9. A tool as defined in claim 8, wherein said handle flange is interrupted to accommodate insertion and removal of a strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

